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The District began its native
prairie landscaping (NPL) project in 2003 with the conversion of several
acres of conventional turf grass to native prairie plants. At the Lemont Water Reclamation Plant (WRP), a total of 3.5 acres were converted in three plots. At the North Side
WRP, a total of 4.2 acres were converted in two plots. The purpose of
NPL conversion is to show good land stewardship, to reduce the long-term
cost of grounds maintenance, to be an example of a best management
practice to infiltrate stormwater, to increase biodiversity and wildlife
habitat and to sequester carbon. Signs are installed at each site to explain the purpose of NPL.
Our primary goal is to have an NPL installation at each WRP and at other
facilities as space allows. The secondary goal is to have NPL
installations on other District properties to be good stewards of our
land. The primary goal includes facilities where District staff are
located and that are exposed to the public. In this way, NPL can be
explained to both District employees and to the public. Late in 2006, the
installation of 23.9 acres of NPL began at the Calumet WRP (15.6 acres)
and at the Stickney WRP (8.3 acres), bringing the total area of NPL at
District facilities to 31.6 acres.
A successful installation of NPL involves multiple steps over several
years and must be performed carefully. Briefly described, this consists of
the following. First, the existing turf and weeds need to be destroyed to
eliminate them from being competitors to the NPL plants and also to
facilitate seeding of native prairie forbs and grasses. Next, native
prairie grass and plant seeds are spread over the site. Seed mixes are
specific to the site, depending on conditions. Areas with sparse plant
population should be reseeded and/or replenished with prairie plant plugs.
Periodic mowing is performed to strengthen the root structure of the
grasses and plants and retard the regrowth of undesirable vegetation. Hand
weeding and/or spot herbicide applications may be necessary to retard or
eliminate competitive weeds because native prairie grasses and plants
develop more slowly. Reseeding may be necessary where the initial seeding
did not thrive. In the third or fourth year, the first burn is scheduled.
This eliminates woody plants and weeds with shallow roots, leaving the
native prairie forbs and grasses, typically having deep roots by this
stage of their growth, to thrive in the post-burn season. Controlled burns
are performed in the late fall or early spring when the thatch is dry, by
licensed personnel following local and state regulations, when wind
conditions are safe and after neighboring property owners have been
properly notified.
In addition to wastewater treatment and beneficial use of biosolids, NPL
is another way in which the District protects the environment,
demonstrates environmental leadership and continues its role of
outstanding service to the public.
District's Green Intitiatives To Restore Prairies And Manage Stormwater With Environmental Stewardship Vision
Native Prairie Landscape
The progress of NPL development can be seen in the following:
- Lemont, July 2003, before NPL installation began
- Lemont, September 2005, after two seasons
- Lemont, July 2006
- North Side, July 2003, before NPL installation began
- North Side, September 2005, after two seasons
- North Side, July 2006
- Native Landscape Installation Summary Report MWRDGC North Side, Lemont
and LASMA Berm Sites
- First-year Monitoring Report for the MWRDGC - North Side, Lemont, &
LASMA
- Second-Year Monitoring Report for the MWRDGC – North Side, Lemont, &
LASMA Prairie Landscape Conversion Sites
- Third-year Monitoring Report for MWRDGC North Side & Lemont WRP
Last, an archive of NPL development photographs and native prairie grasses and
plants.
03/02/2007
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